Forecaster: Sarasota to see faster sea level rise, more very hot days in coming decades

Sarasota residents will have to prepare for more frequent sweltering days in the coming decades.

Currently, about 10 days a year reach 95 degrees or higher in Sarasota, according to Bob Bunting, the CEO of the Sarasota-based Climate Adaptation Center.

Bunting forecasts that in 2050, Sarasota will see 60 such days a year, on average. 

A warming climate not only means that Sarasota will see more days with very high temperatures – it also means that the area will experience an accelerating rate of sea level rise and more frequent hurricanes, Bunting said.

And Sarasota isn’t alone – coastal cities around Florida and the Southeast are also having to deal with the effects of climate change.